Baseball Guru
02-19-2002, 02:44 PM
Closer acknowledges weakness but won't jeopardize his strengths
February 18, 2002
By JEFF FLETCHER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti doesn't mind that closer Robb Nen has trouble keeping runners from stealing second.
That is, as long as Nen continues to keep them from reaching first.
Righetti will continue to work with Nen this spring on holding runners, but he is trying not to make any changes that would affect what's really important: Nen's pitching.
"I can stop all of the running if they want me to," Righetti said. "Of course, I don't know how he would pitch."
See, the same slow, wacky delivery that helped runners succeed on 17 of 18 stolen-base attempts against Nen last season is what helps generate the 97 mph fastballs and 91 mph sliders that have made Nen one of the most unhittable closers.
Last year, opponents hit .203 against Nen, who recorded his third 40-save season in four years with the Giants.
"If that's the only thing they can (criticize) me on, fine," Nen said of his trouble holding runners. "It's something I didn't do a good job on and it needs to be addressed."
Nen is certainly not alone in that regard. It's not unusual for closers to have this problem.
Anaheim's Troy Percival allowed 13 stolen bases in 14 tries last season, Boston's Derek Lowe allowed 15 of 17 and the New York Mets' Armando Benitez allowed 10 of 11.
The Giants tried to quicken Nen's delivery by having him use a slide step, in which his front foot barely leaves the ground, but that affected his pitching too much.
"I can make him go quicker, but then he's going to throw the ball over the catcher's head," Righetti said.
So this spring the Giants will once again work on Plan B, which was somewhat effective later last season. They will have Nen step off more, look runners back and throw a few more pitchouts.
Nen said he simply needs to make more of an effort to pay attention to the runners.
"Sometimes I just wouldn't be thinking about holding the runners or being quick," Nen said. "But you learn things as long as you are in the big leagues."
Righetti said he's also told Nen that holding runners might become more of an issue as he gets older, when he starts to lose some of the steam on his fastball or the bite on his slider.
"There's only one closer on a team, and if a team has two guys who are equal, but one of them can (hold runners), they are going to pick that guy," Righetti said.
LATE ARRIVAL
Felix Rodriguez finally arrived at Giants camp late Sunday morning after missing the first two workouts of the spring. Rodriguez apparently had visa problems getting out of the Dominican Republic.
Manager Dusty Baker said he didn't mind, noting that the mandatory reporting day -- as determined by the Players Association -- isn't for another week.
"It's not a big deal," Baker said. "It's just that the rest of the team is here. Three or four years ago, when he didn't have a job, he would have been here. Things change. People change. No problem."
Baker also said he was certain Rodriguez would be in good shape since he played winter ball in the Dominican Republic.
February 18, 2002
By JEFF FLETCHER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti doesn't mind that closer Robb Nen has trouble keeping runners from stealing second.
That is, as long as Nen continues to keep them from reaching first.
Righetti will continue to work with Nen this spring on holding runners, but he is trying not to make any changes that would affect what's really important: Nen's pitching.
"I can stop all of the running if they want me to," Righetti said. "Of course, I don't know how he would pitch."
See, the same slow, wacky delivery that helped runners succeed on 17 of 18 stolen-base attempts against Nen last season is what helps generate the 97 mph fastballs and 91 mph sliders that have made Nen one of the most unhittable closers.
Last year, opponents hit .203 against Nen, who recorded his third 40-save season in four years with the Giants.
"If that's the only thing they can (criticize) me on, fine," Nen said of his trouble holding runners. "It's something I didn't do a good job on and it needs to be addressed."
Nen is certainly not alone in that regard. It's not unusual for closers to have this problem.
Anaheim's Troy Percival allowed 13 stolen bases in 14 tries last season, Boston's Derek Lowe allowed 15 of 17 and the New York Mets' Armando Benitez allowed 10 of 11.
The Giants tried to quicken Nen's delivery by having him use a slide step, in which his front foot barely leaves the ground, but that affected his pitching too much.
"I can make him go quicker, but then he's going to throw the ball over the catcher's head," Righetti said.
So this spring the Giants will once again work on Plan B, which was somewhat effective later last season. They will have Nen step off more, look runners back and throw a few more pitchouts.
Nen said he simply needs to make more of an effort to pay attention to the runners.
"Sometimes I just wouldn't be thinking about holding the runners or being quick," Nen said. "But you learn things as long as you are in the big leagues."
Righetti said he's also told Nen that holding runners might become more of an issue as he gets older, when he starts to lose some of the steam on his fastball or the bite on his slider.
"There's only one closer on a team, and if a team has two guys who are equal, but one of them can (hold runners), they are going to pick that guy," Righetti said.
LATE ARRIVAL
Felix Rodriguez finally arrived at Giants camp late Sunday morning after missing the first two workouts of the spring. Rodriguez apparently had visa problems getting out of the Dominican Republic.
Manager Dusty Baker said he didn't mind, noting that the mandatory reporting day -- as determined by the Players Association -- isn't for another week.
"It's not a big deal," Baker said. "It's just that the rest of the team is here. Three or four years ago, when he didn't have a job, he would have been here. Things change. People change. No problem."
Baker also said he was certain Rodriguez would be in good shape since he played winter ball in the Dominican Republic.